Monday, January 30, 2017

Big Apple of My Eye was created by Christy of KBShimmer for Polish Con April 2017 as part of The Road to Polish Con, a precursive series of polishes by participating vendors. Polish Con is a biannual expo-style grassroots event designed to foster affinity and connection between polish makers, swatchers, bloggers, nail artists and enthusiasts. Very cool!

Officially described as "a squishy jelly red polish filled with holo and red micro metallic glitter," Big Apple of My Eye is a vibrant medium pigment red, bold, energetic and beautifully balanced between warm and cool. Abundant tiny microglitters produce a twinkling, ruby slippers effect in ambient light and explode into a blanket of bright prismatic sparkle in the sun.

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of Big Apple of My Eye is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and an even, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail -- a user-friendly, eminently-paintable formula that is just what we've learned to expect from KBShimmer. Pigmentation is very good, delivering even, opaque coverage in two medium coats. Cleanup was surprisingly easy for such a bold, saturated red, with minimal pigment travel, sticky glitters or trace staining. Big Apple of My Eye dries naturally in very good time to a slightly flat finish with a bit of texture from the microglitters, easily smoothed by a generous layer of topcoat.

Photos show two coats of Big Apple of My Eye over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

KBShimmer Big Apple of My Eye

Sassy, sparkly and altogether terrific! This is a superb representation of the excitement and anticipation surrounding the upcoming Polish Con event, which takes place on 29 April, 2017 at The Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, NY. The Road to Polish Con series continues apace and while Big Apple of My Eye is no longer listed for sale online, it will be available from Christy herself at the expo. Want to go? General admission tickets are still available at Eventbrite. The cost is $20. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Polish Con site and follow on Facebook for news and future releases!love,Liz

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Stars at Twilight was released in December by Iowa-based indie polish maker Tonic Polish as part of the Holiday 2016 collection. Creator Lindsey describes it as a "dark denim blue cream with red/pink-gold shifting multichrome shimmer and silver holo microglitters." The base color here is a creamy, medium-dark denimy blue with a dusky, slightly greyed aspect to it. Superabundant ultrafine red/pink/gold colorshifting shimmers combine with the base color to give it an amethyst/dark lavender cast, and create a gorgeous bloom of misty reddish pink (with shifts to gold at certain angles) that appears to emanate from deep within the polish. The holographic microglitters are also incredibly fine, visible only as the tiniest of prismatic sparks that ignite as light travels over them, producing a dreamy twinkling effect in ambient light. In the sun, the colors brighten considerably and the polish is blanketed with a field of fine holographic sparkle.

Application was great! The consistency of Stars at Twilight is fluid, full-bodied and very smooth with a medium viscosity and a luxuriously creamy, self-leveling glide over the nail. Pigmentation is very good, delivering evenly opaque coverage in two coats. Cleanup is easy. Stars at Twilight dries naturally in good time to a smooth finish that wants a glossy topcoat to look its best. Topcoat also enhances the presence and effects of the multichrome shimmers.Photos show two coats of Stars at Twilight over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Tonic Polish Stars at Twilight

Low-key but spellbinding, this is a beautifully composed polish that lives up to its name in every way, from the dusky, crepuscular indigo color to the rosy glowing flush of multichromatic shimmers to the starry twinkling of those teensy microglitters. Lindsey's multichrome polishes from the Holiday 2016 collection have been received with enthusiasm and delight, but I think her imaginative use of multichrome shimmers in this polish to replicate stars emerging in an evening sky still glowing with the last colors of sunset is awe-inspiring in its success. I very much look forward to trying more from Tonic Polish!love,Liz

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Like Peace on Earth, Velvet Bow was released in December 2016 by Australian indie polish maker Pretty Serious Cosmetics as part of the Ghosts of Christmas Past collection. The color is a deep variation of crimson with a blackened aspect that gives it the general appearance of something along the lines of Harvard crimson. Stunningly dimensionalized by ultrafine particulate shimmers, it has a sultry "lit from within" glow and a sleek, gleaming semi-metallic finish. Application went beautifully. The consistency of Velvet Bow is fluid, dense and very smooth with a medium-to-thicker viscosity and a lush, velvety, self-leveling glide over the nail with some pull to it. Those who prefer a more full-bodied viscosity will have no problem with this polish, but I added a couple of squirts of polish thinner to my bottle for a little more fluency on the nail. Pigmentation is outstanding, an easy one-coater. I added a second to finesse some of my lines, but it did not alter the look at all. Cleanup was much, much less problematic than I feared it would be, with light pigment travel and almost no residual staining -- hooray! Velvet Bow dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat adds a becoming gloss and enhances the presence and effects of the shimmers.

Photos show two coats of Velvet Bow over KBShimmer Love You Strong Time treatment and KBShimmer Fillin' Groovy basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

Pretty Serious Velvet Bow

A consummate old-school-style shimmer! It is so luxurious and plush that you feel you could just dive into it! Drop-dead sexy, too. You can't help but be impressed by this classic candy apple shade, even if you aren't into reds. If you are, it's a must have!love,Liz

Friday, January 27, 2017

Nusa Penida was released in August 2016 by Minnesota-based indie polish maker Elevation Polish as part of the Barely Bali collection. Creator Lulu describes it as a "saturated dark blue teal near linear holographic," and I agree, although I'd say that it's a true linear holo. The color is a dark, rich teal blue with aspects of cerulean, petrol and Atlantic blue. It is dimensionalized and considerably brightened by holographically-nuanced hues of ultramarine and deep azure with sparks of sea green in ambient light. In the sun, there's a brilliant linear holographic display predominated by vivid, sparkling arcs of azure and spring green edged by a corona of mixed prismatic sparks that shades to an inky teal blue around the sidewalls of the nail. Application was great! The consistency of Nusa Penida is fluid, smooth and dense with a medium viscosity and a lush, full-bodied, self-leveling glide over the nail that has a bit of pull to it. It went on best for me in medium coats from a generously loaded brush. Pigmentation is excellent. With an even hand, one medium coat will do ya'. I do not have an even hand, so I used two to avoid any areas of sheerness. Cleanup provokes some pigment travel with a touch of trace staining to dry areas. Nusa Penida dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic properties of the polish in any way. Photos show two coats of Nusa Penida over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Elevation Polish Nusa Penida

Although relatively dark compared to many teal polishes, the color of
this lacquer is wonderfully clean and unmuddied, a gorgeous inky,
oceanic shade to ignite lust in the hearts of teal lovers everywhere. On
top of that, the holographic effects are stunning -- brilliant,
sparkling ribbons of blue and green that stand out beautifully from the
deep base.

The name of this polish comes from the eponymous island of approximately 247 square kilometers located off the southeast coast of Bali, notable for its bird sanctuary, excellent dive sites and lack of tourist infrastructure.

Coastal cliffs at Pasih Uug, also known as Broken Beach, Nusa Penida (source)

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Like Did You Know You're My Hero, You Make Me Smile was released in April 2016 by Colorado-based indie polish maker Colors by Llarowe as part of the Tribute to a Wonderful Friend subset of the Spring 2016 collection. Officially described as a "bright almost neon pinky red coral soft linear holo with blue/purple shimmer," the base color is a creamy, dense, slightly magenta-leaning variation of deep pink with strong raspberry overtones that give it a rosy aspect and a general appearance similar to Pantone's paradise pink. Ultrafine holographic pigment creates a finely-grained visual texture with an effervescent quality that nicely complements the vibrant, effusive character of the color, and infinitesimal blue/purple particulate shimmers generate a delicate, transparent violet overlay. In the sun, there's a shimmering, diffuse holographic display, somewhat scattered by the particulate shimmers, with a vestigial prismatic bloom that travels up and down the nail with the light.Application was most agreeable! The consistency of You Make Me Smile is fluid, full-bodied and creamy with a medium viscosity and a lush, velvety, self-leveling glide over the nail that has a tiny bit of pull to it. Pigmentation is excellent. With a generous hand, evenly opaque, wearable coverage can be had in one coat, although as with most holos I think two thin-to-medium coats better maximizes the holographic effects. Cleanup was remarkably easy for such a saturated color, with a smidge of pigment travel but little to no residual staining. You Make Me Smile dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, flat finish that wants a glossy topcoat to look its best. Topcoat enhances the effects of the shimmers and does not interfere with the holographic properties in any way.Photos show two coats of You Make Me Smile over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

This polish is so appropriately named -- that rich, vivid, lush deep pink is euphoric! It reminds me of lipstick and tulips for some reason, although in my experience the color is denser and more magenta-leaning than real pink tulips. It must be the bright, exuberantly feminine splash of color in the middle of what passes for winter here in central NC that's got me going... but that's not to say that You Make Me Smile is necessarily or unusually spring-like. Personally, I think that it's got plenty of oomph to hold its own with jewel-tones and makes for a lively, high-spirited alternative to darker, more wintry shades. An excellent choice for Valentine's Day!love,Liz